Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | March 19
In a startling revelation, the Opposition Congress yesterday said that the State government has never won court cases, which is matter of great concern.
Opposition leader I Imkong said that the state government had lost every case excepting the recent case which was won by the State Forest department over the encroachment of zoological park by some individuals.
Congress said the State Law department should be headed by a sincere person so that the State is not humiliated often by such defeats.
The status of the State’s legal department is known to be in a sorry state.
“It is not that we have not won cases but our losses are more,” said Additional Chief Secretary, Lalthara. He admitted, though, that people have a better chance of winning court cases against the government.
This is despite the officer’s claim that the law department has “efficient officers”. However, since hardly any case is won by the government, it gives rise to speculation that there is corruption in the ranks of the establishment not enabling it to win cases.
Last year, there were more than 200 cases against the government in the Education department alone, which were then brought down to about 70 cases.
Most cases against the government are filed by discontented employees on one ground or the other. Other departments too are facing legal wrangles due to which the government’s position is precarious, officials admit.
A case in point is the case against the government in the appointment of undergraduate teachers.
Last year, there were exams and interviews conducted for undergraduate teachers. Those appointed on an ad hoc basis, however, filed a case and stopped appointment. It is notable that the government did not care to take the ad hoc teachers into confidence before going ahead with appointments, putting in limbo the careers of the fresh candidates who worked for the examinations.
A judgement in the case is awaited, sources said.
